'Manaphin' hoax attracts worldwide attention

Visit St. Pete/Clearwater got into the April Fools’ Day act by announcing the discovery of a cross between a dolphin and manatee, a “Manaphin.”

The agency issued a press release saying the animal was discovered off the coast of Pinellas County and even created a website with purported video footage of the animal, WTSP said. The announcement was a hoax, but served as an effective marketing tool. The stunt was picked up by news agencies worldwide including London’s Daily Telegraph which called it one of the travel industry’s top pranks. The hashtags #manaphin and #savethemanaphin also began trending on Twitter.

"This is marketing, this is what we do," David Downing, deputy director of the Pinellas tourism agency told the Tampa Bay Times. "It's just another kind of marketing to keep the destination front and center in the minds of potential visitors — and locals with a sense of humor."